Sunday at dusk on the last day of mens, twenty-or-so long, slender models are decked out in the latest Post Archive Faction collection, all lined up like sardines and laying in a bed whose collective square meter-age is probably larger than my apartment. At this point in the week, as rain pours outside, running on café au lait and vogue cigarettes- it requires a great amount of self control to not throw myself into this enormous pile of bed sheets and boys.
One by one they sit up, stretching and yawning. Shaking out their perfect messy hair and straightening their ties, PAF’s sleepy models groggily rise to the occasion of the hour. On your feet boys- it’s runway time! Delicate violins begin to play as they slip on their shoes, some in soft suede moccasins, others in cool toned monochrome ON trainers, some in sleek patent oxfords. Together, it’s like a dreamy deconstructed American Psycho for the modern metrosexual. In the best way.
Sleek monochromatic looks are nuanced and streamlined in their form, however they maintain a fluid and airy quality, evoking an effortless luxury. Comfort forward yet uncompromising in quality or design, these boys look ready to seamlessly transition from one routine to the next. From business, to sports, to coffee or cocktails- even the afternoon nap is covered. The pieces are utilitarian in their simplicity yet artful in their application and detail- an elegant thoughtfulness and sharp savoir-faire brings a refreshing dimensionality to what could have been another minimalist twist on classic menswear. Fine wool, light knits, and reflective silk in cool toned neutrals are expertly layered, creating an approachability in this soft yet rich colour pallet that is interrupted by a deeper artistry we see in pieces such as a crinkle-effect inky black suit or in their khaki puffer with origami pleat detailing. Delicate fur lining brings subtle femininity to tech-y impermeables. Minimal black and white trousers are pleasantly disrupted by delicately bouncing exaggerated belt loops that trail down the pant leg. This is a capsule I can get behind.
In their final look the last sleeping PAF soldier rubs his weary eyes, standing up to reveal that what had appeared to be a feather duvet is actually a dress of sorts that drags behind him down the runway- reinforcing the nuanced avant-gardism throughout the collection (and my need for a 5th coffee) .